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First Steve Nash Sports Club to Open in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, Jan. 31 /CNW/ - Canada's favourite sports star is opening an
unprecedented, state-of-the-art fitness facility in downtown Vancouver. Steve
Nash, the first Canadian to be voted basketball's MVP -- twice, is known for
his selfless magic on and off the court. Now, the Victoria-raised Nash is
turning his attention to a $5-million, 38,500 square foot fitness club that
will open this spring.
The Steve Nash Sports Club will mirror Nash's own fitness philosophy.
Nash believes in a holistic approach to total mind-body health and the new
club will encourage overall wellbeing through fitness, nutrition and a healthy
environment. The Steve Nash Sports Club will also work locally to improve
conditions for children and youth, and partner with the Steve Nash Foundation
to grow health in kids.
"I always wanted to do this, to help people become the best they can be,"
said Nash. "It's not just about being physically fit, but the benefits overall
good health brings to your life." Nash has a deep-rooted commitment to
promoting good health. In 2001, he started the Steve Nash Foundation that
supports health and wellbeing for kids and he recently used his endowment
money to help pay for a new pediatric cardiology ward in a Paraguay hospital.
Partnered with fitness industry experts including Canadian Leonard
Schlemm, co-founder of 24 Hour Fitness in the U.S. and California Fitness in
Asia, Steve Nash's new club joins an empire that will offer members exclusive
privileges including access to 450 clubs around the world, from the U.S. to
Hong Kong and Singapore to Russia to Chile. Nash plans to open several more
sites throughout the Vancouver area as well as Victoria in the near future.
"This is Steve's dream facility," said Leonard Schlemm, who also owns the
Mansfield and Atwater clubs in Montreal. "It's an exciting opportunity for
him, for us and for British Columbians. This will be a sports club like no one
has ever seen before."
Located at 610 Granville in the heart of Vancouver's business district,
the club will offer an impressive collection of cutting edge equipment,
including a first for Vancouver-plasma workout equipment. High-end amenities
include flat screen TVs on all cardio equipment, an internet lounge, towel
service, digital lockers, the best personal trainers and a healthy, green
workout space. Airy and spacious Group X rooms include indoor cycling as well
as yoga and pilates. A bistro will encourage people to linger, while an
outdoor patio offers a peaceful break from the busy downtown. Add to that
floor to ceiling windows overlooking Granville Street and you have a club like
none other.
The Steve Nash Sports Club will be the first fitness facility in Canada
to aim for LEEDS Silver certification, the benchmark for high performance
green buildings. Every aspect of the club's design is focused on
sustainability and environmental responsibility. This reflects both the
culture of the Pacific Northwest and Steve's belief that healthy living
extends to the environment around us. Design materials such as a floating
bamboo floor and area rugs made from recycled athletic shoelaces were chosen
for their aesthetics as well as for their recycled content and air quality
contribution.
The interior finishing will be high style and inspired by Steve Nash,
with specialized lighting, large graphic panels and at the top of the steel
and glass staircase, a backdrop accent wall of bamboo designed to look like a
basketball court.
Club membership sales begin this month at the 640 Granville preview
centre, with the first Steve Nash Sports Club opening at 610 Granville this
May. To contact the club, please call 604 682 5213 or register for more
information at www.stevenashsportsclub.com